Dying Firefighter’s Last Wish? To Sing ‘The Dance’

Marc Wright, a 25-year veteran of the Columbia, Missouri Fire Department, had one last wish before succumbing to a battle with cancer. The firefighter -- a true country music fan -- sang “The Dance” by Garth Brooks, while surrounded by family and friends in his hospital bed.

He lost his three-year battle with cancer just days later. Wright's sister, Michele, posted the video of his heart-wrenching performance on Facebook Jan. 24, captioning it, "My wonderful brother, Marc Wright, singing The Dance last night." On Jan. 29, she shared the announcement of his passing, which was posted by the Columbia Fire Department.

Michele Wright's Facebook page was additionally filled with earlier photos of her brother in the hospital; clearly a very loved individual visited by a wide variety of friends and family.

"I see how many people love this wonderful man makes my heart so full and I am so thankful," she noted. "I have never met anyone who isn’t totally drawn to him. Love every past, present and future time we are blessed with."

As it turns out, even Brooks himself was moved by Wright. In a Facebook Live chat, he admired Wright's vocal talent. "When you find a good voice for a good song, all of a sudden it takes on its own voice, and I’ve never heard ‘The Dance’ sung like this guy sings it," he raved.

Wright's friends organized a GoFundMe account to assist with medical and funeral expenses; the campaign has ended, but raised more than $15,000 in his name.